Notes on Homosexual Marriage

1. Public Opinions polls increasingly reflect that the Canadian public wishes to have an input into the decision to grant homosexual marriages to some Canadians.

Public opinion appears divided on how to grant legal status for gay and lesbian unions. 36 per cent of respondents believe lawmakers should keep the existing legal definition of marriage and set up a separate legal category that includes same-sex unions but would not be called marriage, 35 per cent believe the legal definition of marriage should be changed to include the union of any two persons, regardless of their gender, while 29 per cent are opposed to any law recognizing same-sex unions.

If we look closely at this report, there is not much of an appearance of division but a clear division against homosexual marriages. While 35% support the redefining of the institution, 65% want the status quo to remain or oppose changes to it.

2. At its first convention in Montreal, the Conservative Party has chosen to stand its ground against homosexual marriages, while the Liberal Party aligned in favour. There is no telling how this will play out in a future election, but the numbers are not encouraging for the Liberals if homosexual marriage became a central issue in the next election.

3. Conservative MP from Calgary Centre North, Jim Prentice, heir to Joe Clark's legacy in that city, must be watching the numbers closely in disbelief.

4. Canada is going through the approval of homosexual marriage in a similar fashion as Spain did: without much debate, pushed by the government in power. Barcepundit writes about a manner that ought to sound rather familiar to Canadians, except for the part about action:

Zapatero always brags about being the champion of tolerance, of listening to others, and of the beauty of dialogue, but when it's the moment to act, he simply does whatever he wants without listening at all.